SUMMER SKIING

Get your skiing holiday fix in the summer

WHY NOT TRY SUMMER SKIING?

Imagine yourself skiing downhill in the morning, having a leisurely lunch and then mountain biking in shorts and a t-shirt in the afternoon. There are only a handful of resorts in Europe that offer glacier skiing throughout the summer months but they are well worth a visit. There's nothing quite like the feeling of downhill skiing in summer.

Midsummer snow conditions are typically icy first thing in the morning. But by mid-morning conditions are wonderful with two hours of perfect 'spring' snow as the surface softens. Later in the day the snow can become very wet and heavy. Because of this the ski lifts close before 2pm in midsummer. After any bad weather it is normal to ski fresh powder snow - even in midsummer - thanks to the extreme altitudes. Just be up there early!

Glacier skiing is about very broad motorways of well groomed, obstacle free snow and the majority of the summer area are quite suitable for beginners and intermediates.

SUGGESTED SUMMER SKIING RESORTS

In Austria ski on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above the charming village of Kaprun and perhaps base yourself in the nearby beautiful lakeside town of Zell am See or try skiing on the glacier in Hintertux above Mayrhofen in the magnificent Zillertal valley.

Zermatt in Switzerland is a great choice and has the largest and highest summer skiing area in Europe. Twenty-five kilometres of pistes and eight ski lifts remain open all summer. Also in Switzerland, Saas Fee is another popular area.

In Italy, Selva (known to ‘Ski Sunday’ viewers as Val Gardena) is located beneath the jagged peaks of the most spectacular part of the Dolomites.

Note: The glacial summer skiing experience is usually only suitable for those aged 13 and above.